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Starting School. How do I know my child is ready for school?. Choosing a school that is right for you and your child. Bernard Cheng. Principal: Australia Street Infants School. Starting School.
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Starting School How do I know my child is ready for school? Choosing a school that is right for you and your child Bernard Cheng. Principal: Australia Street Infants School
Starting School Bernard Cheng. Principal: Australia Street Infants School. August 2005 • Starting School is an important step in a young child’s life. • Children develop a different rates and learn skills in different ways. • As a school it is our role to respond to the needs, individual learning styles and rates of progress of each individual child.
Starting School Bernard Cheng. Principal: Australia Street Infants School. August 2005 • Schools tend to plan initial learning experiences around the skills which individual students bring to school. • Specialist advice is always available at all stages fo schooling for children with specific needs.
Is my child the right age to start school? Bernard Cheng. Principal: Australia Street Infants School. August 2005 • Children may enter Kindergarten at the beginning of the school year if they turn five on or before the 31st July. • The law states that all children must start school by the age of six. • However… • Starting school is a very individual journey. There is no real exact age to start school, hence the DET allowing a 4yrs to 6 yrs age range. • Starting School early is not always the best thing to do for your child!
Which school do I choose? Bernard Cheng. Principal: Australia Street Infants School. August 2005 • Don’t be dazzled by the hype …. • Consider: • Are you in the schools drawing area for local enrolments? • Do you feel that the school has a positive vibe and welcoming feel? • Do you think the wider school community is supports your own views and perspectives?
Which school do I choose? Bernard Cheng. Principal: Australia Street Infants School. August 2005 • Ask the right questions: • What questions do you have in your mind regarding your child and the school? • Ask for a tour of the school and to visit the classrooms whilst classes are in progress.
Which school do I choose? Bernard Cheng. Principal: Australia Street Infants School. August 2005 • Ask the right questions: • Chat to the teachers and current school parents if possible. • Look at it from the perspective of your child… Will this be a fun and exciting place to start your child’s learning journey!
Have a think … Bernard Cheng. Principal: Australia Street Infants School. August 2005 • What do you remember about your first day at school? • What were you excited about? • What were you concerned about? • Chances are your child will have the same thoughts and feelings about their first day at school!
How do I know my child is ready for school? Bernard Cheng. Principal: Australia Street Infants School. August 2005 • Ask them! • As children mature and develop they naturally start to challenge and question the world around them and start to wonder what else is out there. • Some children start to begin to role play at home and copy school like behaviors of older children. • Some children start to make decisions about their own learning through questioning and making their needs known.
How do I know my child is ready for school? Bernard Cheng. Principal: Australia Street Infants School. August 2005 • In terms of assessing a child’s range of abilities and assessing readiness for school, we would generally be looking at a range of capabilities which include: • Language • Mathematics • Personal & Social Skills • Physical skills
How do I know my child is ready for school? Bernard Cheng. Principal: Australia Street Infants School. August 2005 • Language • Talks to other people about familiar objects and events. • Answers and asks simple questions. • Makes needs known.
How do I know my child is ready for school? Bernard Cheng. Principal: Australia Street Infants School. August 2005 • Language • Follows simple instructions. • Uses books for enjoyment or looking at pictures. • Uses a variety of objects such as pens, pencils, textas, paintbrushes to scribble with. • Joins in with familiar songs.
How do I know my child is ready for school? Bernard Cheng. Principal: Australia Street Infants School. August 2005 • Mathematics • Recognizes that numbers can be used to count. • Uses words like: all, a lot, less. • Identifies things in a group. • Sees differences in shapes. • Differentiates between opposites eg: up and down, under and over in front and behind, day and night.
How do I know my child is ready for school? Bernard Cheng. Principal: Australia Street Infants School. August 2005 • Personal & Social Skills • Uses the toilet independently • Can say own name and address • Adapts to familiar settings and new experiences • Can finish a task and tidies up afterwards
How do I know my child is ready for school? Bernard Cheng. Principal: Australia Street Infants School. August 2005 • Personal & Social Skills • Plays cooperatively with other children • Shares and takes turns • Can sit still to listen to a story for a few minutes • Is curious about the world • Participates in imaginative play • Can play with others
How do I know my child is ready for school? Bernard Cheng. Principal: Australia Street Infants School. August 2005 • Physical Skills • Recognises that numbers can be used to count • Uses scissors to cut along a straight line • Enjoys a variety of indoor and outdoor play
How do I know my child is ready for school? Bernard Cheng. Principal: Australia Street Infants School. August 2005 • Physical Skills • Can put on and take off jumpers, shoes, socks independently • Makes and designs using a variety of materials • Participates in imaginative play
How do I know my child is ready for school? Bernard Cheng. Principal: Australia Street Infants School. August 2005 • Perspectives • How do you expect to be welcomed on your child’s first day? • What do you think your child’s teacher will be feeling and wanting to know when they first meet your child? • What do you expect will happen on the their first day at school?
Who can I contact for further advice? Bernard Cheng. Principal: Australia Street Infants School. August 2005 There is a range of support available to support the transition to school which includes: • Your child’s pre-school teacher • The school principal and kindergarten teacher • Your local school education area office can also provide support in regards to: • Special Education needs and disability support programs • Aboriginal community support and liaison
Some important contacts Bernard Cheng. Principal: Australia Street Infants School. August 2005 • Sydney Regional Office • Contact number: 9217 4877 • Sylvia Corish: Network 8 School Education Area Director • Contact number: 9298 6900 • Pam Mezups: Early Intervention Arnclife School Education Area Office • Contact number: 9556 3097 • Bernard Cheng: Principal, Australia Street Infants School • Contact number: 9557 5377